Casino Style 2021 | Page 11

Designed to Dine , Play & Stay

New Vegas Dining Options

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n what is ( optimistically ) a post-pandemic world , resort customers are more eager than ever to dine out , hang out , and be entertained .
Based on activity along the Las Vegas Strip and at other gaming and entertainment complexes nationwide , that enthusiasm is especially evident in the wealth of new restaurants and entertainment venues coming online .
No longer is food a secondary experience at casino resorts , nor is menu the sole deciding factor . Restaurant design is an increasingly important factor in attracting patrons and getting them to play , stay and return to do it all again .
Additionally , entertainment options that draw in new and diverse guests beyond the game have become essential for properties as they assess ways to remain relevant and financially successful .
Bergman Walls & Associates ( BWA ) has played a critical role in many of these new dining and entertainment options . The Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace ( with designer Tetsuo Aoyagi ) features deluxe food stations and sleek finishes that are anything but old-school or cafeteria-style . USA Today has called it “ one of Las Vegas ’ best buffets .”
The new Mayfair Supper Club at the Bellagio ( created with the Martin Brudnizki Design Studio ) oozes old-school glamour and sophistication in a destination where patrons can dine and be seen .
And new food courts at TI ( Treasure Island ) and Circus Circus elevate fast-casual with dining spaces that encourage patrons to linger beyond the graband-go .
In record numbers , sports fans are heading to sportsbooks to watch and bet on their favorite teams . Two BWA projects , The Book and RE : MATCH sports betting lounges are anything but your dad ’ s sports bar . They bring new types and generations of customers for camaraderie over a shared love of sports , with stylized betting kiosks , large-screen TVs , virtual reality and interactive gaming , as well as food and drink service .
In addition to state-of-the-art sports betting options , The Book , Caesars Entertainment ’ s sports lounge at the LINQ Las Vegas , offers non-gaming entertainment like a wall of self-serve beer taps , a fast-casual food truck , fan caves and various seating configurations .
The family-friendly attraction FlyOver Las Vegas features pre-show areas that set the stage for immersing patrons into the multi-sensory journey ready to unfold before them . FlyOver ’ s BWA-designed Lost Cactus bar and lounge captures the spirit of the Western U . S . that is central to the experience .
In 2011 , late BWA co-founder and chairman Joel Bergman told Global Gaming Business , “ We no longer call ourselves gaming architects . All along , we ’ ve really been in the entertainment business .” His words ring especially true today , as the gaming and entertainment industries continue their comeback .
BWA Principal-in-Charge John Hinton could not agree more . “ The pause caused by the pandemic provided the opportunity to reassess future facility plans and priorities , and of course , to plan to wow customers when they returned .
“ BWA is pleased we ’ ve been able to help our clients deliver on special spaces that make patrons excited about going out again , and which symbolize that dining and entertainment are back and better than ever .”
2021 CASINO STYLE 11